What is the last thing you thought about last night before you went to sleep and what was the first thing you thought of this morning when you woke up? I have heard and I agree, that it tells a lot about who we are.
For most of us we are going to have really important things going on in our lives that are going to come to the forefront at times, but I hope that we can make the effort to make such an effort daily that it is God who dwells this close to the surface of our thoughts.
Some people though have never had God or Jesus anywhere near the surface; he is buried as though He never arose from the tomb. But then events bring Him up and they are reminded or they are acquainted with Him.
The 33 miners from Chile
Now that they have emerged some of the personalities and details are emerging with them. There is the Elvis fan, the man who tried to exercise daily, the former soldier who tried to organize, there was the man who had two women waiting at one point for him.
What do you suppose each of these miners and their families thought about when they woke up and when they went to sleep? Maybe we will find out some day as the movies, articles and books start being produced.
While some have focused on the signs of patriotism shown by the country pulling together and the waving of Chilean flags and some the individual miners passion for football (soccer), I have been thrilled with the signs of faith in Christ.
We heard about a man named Jose Henriquez and I hope that one day we will know all the details of his ministry within this earthen prison. At this point it would be conjecture to know what was, is or will be within this man, but God knows, but all I care about was what I saw, Jesus.
We were told that Jose led prayer multiple times a day and that he had asked that 33 bibles be sent down. The title to this posting came to my mind because we learned that he found comfort from Psalm 95 during his ordeal. And there are stories we are learning about Campus Crusade for Christ, their Jesus Film Project and the t-shirts the group sent down to the miners that said Thank you Jesus.
We saw miners that emerged clutching bibles and miners that knelt in prayer upon being lifted from what had been a certain tomb.
All these things are a result of what these men endured and it reminds me of this scripture:
Philippians 1:12-18a
Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Perhaps like Paul, Jose Henriquez, was “encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” due to his circumstances and as a result some were saved and others who had faith were bolstered. Some were superficially converted perhaps in a “if you get me out of this Father, I will become a priest.” sort of way. But who cares?
What I mean by that is similar to what Paul said above, “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
The world heard about their prayer groups, their request for Bibles. They heard about the faith that the miners’ families had and many heard about the Campus Crusade for Christ and their “Jesus Film Project” for the first time and the fact that most of the miners emerged from their shared tomb wearing their t-shirts given to them by the Campus Crusade for Christ that said “Thank you Jesus”.
It is important to reflect on all of this and realize how God can use and we can use the whole myriad of experiences that exist in the world to accomplish His will.
And as we also reflect on the ordeal of these 33 men we can remember the “pit” in which they were buried, how they were seemingly without hope but they rationed what supplies they had anyway and through God’s graces they were rewarded for that optimism by being drawn from the depths of the earth.
But for some of these men, it may have been a postponement, a postponement from a destination that they will share with countless others.
People you know will join them and people you don’t will as well.
Will you like Jose Henriquez, be “encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” for their sake?
Only God knows if Jose’s efforts will make a difference that lasts now that the miners are out of the darkness, hopefully they will stay in the light.
Only God knows what difference the “Jesus Film Project” made for these men.
Only God knows whose dollars were donated that ultimately provided the mp3 player or the staff people who suggested the movie be sent to these miners.
But like I wrote back on September 20th, “If you think of those miners and you had the ability to ease their burden and perhaps even rescue them, would you not try unceasingly to do whatever it is that you could do for them? Why should the unsaved and their condition be of less importance to us?
The last thing I want you to think about tonight and the first thing tomorrow morning is that and what you are going to do about saving the lost from a place where there will be no hope of escaping.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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